Emperor Taizu of Song

Zhao Kuangyin was a decorated military general under the Later Zhou when he staged his coup d'état in 960, compelling Emperor Gong to abdicate and handing himself the mandate. Over the next decade and a half he methodically absorbed Southern Tang, Later Shu, Southern Han, and Jingnan, reunifying a fractured landscape. To keep power consolidated he stripped military commanders of their autonomy and placed civilian officials at the levers of government. He died in 976, and his younger brother Zhao Kuangyi took the throne as Emperor Taizong.